PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Seattle center fielder Mallex Smith will not participate in early throwing and fielding drills during spring training because of shoulder soreness sustained while throwing in January."We'll kind of slow-play him," manager Scott Servais said Friday. "He got a little over-zealous and did a lot of throwing right out of the chute. I think you'll see him swinging in the cage and hitting on the field."The 25-year-old Smith hit .296 with 27 doubles, 10 triples and 40 steals for Tampa Bay last season in his first full season in the major leagues.He was acquired in the trade that sent Mike Zunino, Guillermo Heredia and Michael Plassmeyer to Tampa Bay on Nov. 8, after the Mariners decided to return Dee Gordon to second base this season.___More AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — If nothing else, the Seattle Mariners' early arrival for spring training will give them a little more meet-and-greet time.The Mariners have 20 new players, including seven projected new starters, on their training camp roster this spring after an offseason overhaul following an 89-victory 2018 that still left them eight games out of the playoffs."I've been studying mugs of these guys to get a feeling. It's going to be a little bit different camp with all the new people," manager Scott Servais said Monday. "A lot of educating to do. Name tags would be good. Mandatory wear your jersey out there with the name on the back."The most notable new face is left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who is expected to start one of the two games the Mariners will play in his native Japan. Seattle reported to spring training a day earlier than most to prepare for the season-opening series against Oakland in Tokyo on March 20-21.Kikuchi, who signed a four-year, $56 million contract in the offseason,... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners have hired veteran coach Perry Hill as their new first base and infield coach after Scott Brosius decided not to return to the coaching staff in 2019.Hill has spent the past six seasons with Miami and worked extensively with Seattle's Dee Gordon during his time there. Hill has spent 23 years coaching in the majors and 32 years overall in pro ball.Brosius had spent the past two seasons on the staff of manager Scott Servais and was invited back for 2019 but declined his contract offer. Brosius joined the team in 2017 as an assistant coach and was Seattle's third-base coach last year.Seattle will move Chris Prieto to third-base coach.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SEATTLE (AP) — Mallex Smith was made a promise by Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto when he was acquired for a second time by the Mariners after an initial tenure that lasted less than two hours."Dipoto didn't guarantee anything, but he said I at least have 78 minutes," Smith joked. "We'll see."Smith is back with the Mariners as part of a five-player deal between Seattle and Tampa Bay on Thursday that landed the Rays catcher Mike Zunino and outfielder Guillermo Heredia.The swap continued a lengthy trade history between the teams and came as a surprise to Zunino, who said he had recent conversations with Seattle manager Scott Servais looking ahead to 2019."I was shocked. To see your name in trade talks, let alone this early in the offseason, was beyond my expectations," Zunino said.Smith, 25, stole a career-best 40 bases this year and was caught 12 times. He hit .296, tied for the major league lead with 10 triples and had 40 RBIs. He is not eligible for free agency until after the 2022... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Mallex Smith was made a promise by Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto when he was acquired for a second time by the Mariners after an initial tenure that lasted less than two hours."Dipoto didn't guarantee anything, but he said I at least have 78 minutes," Smith joked. "We'll see."Smith is back with the Mariners as part of a five-player deal between Seattle and Tampa Bay on Thursday that landed the Rays catcher Mike Zunino and outfielder Guillermo Heredia.The swap continued a lengthy trade history between the teams and came as a surprise to Zunino, who said he had recent conversations with Seattle manager Scott Servais looking ahead to 2019."I was shocked. To see your name in trade talks, let alone this early in the offseason, was beyond my expectations," Zunino said.Smith, 25, stole a career-best 40 bases this year and was caught 12 times. He hit .296, tied for the major league lead with 10 triples and had 40 RBIs. He is not eligible for free agency until after the 2022... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Mallex Smith was made a promise by Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto when he was acquired for a second time by the Mariners after an initial tenure that lasted less than two hours."Dipoto didn't guarantee anything, but he said I at least have 78 minutes," Smith joked. "We'll see."Smith is back with the Mariners as part of a five-player deal between Seattle and Tampa Bay on Thursday that landed the Rays catcher Mike Zunino and outfielder Guillermo Heredia.The swap continued a lengthy trade history between the teams and came as a surprise to Zunino, who said he had recent conversations with Seattle manager Scott Servais looking ahead to 2019."I was shocked. To see your name in trade talks, let alone this early in the offseason, was beyond my expectations," Zunino said.Smith, 25, stole a career-best 40 bases this year and was caught 12 times. He hit .296, tied for the major league lead with 10 triples and had 40 RBIs. He is not eligible for free agency until after the 2022... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — In most years, 89 wins would have landed the Seattle Mariners in the postseason and ended the longest playoff drought of any team in the four major professional sports.The Mariners picked the wrong year to collapse, going from being in control of a playoff berth at midseason to completely out of the race in early September. And with an expensive and aging core group, Seattle is back to asking whether it should push to be competitive with the rest of the American League powers in 2019 or take a step back and make changes this offseason in the hope of longer sustained success."Leaving spring training, if you had told any of us that 89 wins was our outcome this year, regardless of how we were going to get there, we would have been thrilled," Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto said. "We picked a unique season where 89 wins wasn't enough."Seattle's season was defined by its fade. In the middle of June, the Mariners held an 11-game lead over the A's in the standings. By the beginning... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched baseball's final playoff berth and gave themselves a chance to still win the NL West, getting a go-ahead triple from Manny Machado in the eighth inning Saturday and beating the San Francisco Giants 10-6.The defending NL champions locked up their sixth straight trip to the postseason, assuring at least a spot in the wild-card game. The Dodgers joined Colorado, Atlanta, the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee in the NL playoff field.Los Angeles began the day one game behind Colorado for the division lead, and the Rockies hosted Washington later in the day. The regular season is scheduled to end Sunday — if Los Angeles and Colorado finish even, there will be a one-game tiebreaker for the West title Monday at Dodger Stadium.Machado, the star infielder acquired from Baltimore during the All-Star break, hit a two-out triple off Mark Melancon (1-4) for a 6-5 lead. Max Muncy added a two-run double during a four-run ninth.Alex Wood (9-7) pitched the seventh... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — The Oakland Athletics clinched their first playoff berth in four years, then beat the Seattle Mariners 7-3 Monday night behind Khris Davis' major league-leading 46th home run.Jonathan Lucroy, Jed Lowrie and Matt Chapman also homered for the A's, assured no worse than an AL wild card.Oakland was one out into the game when Tampa Bay was eliminated with a 4-1 loss to the New York Yankees. The A's went on to win after Chapman broke a 3-3 tie with a two-run drive in the seventh off Shawn Armstrong (0-1).Coming off three straight last-place finishes in the AL West, the A's (95-62) are 4½ games behind AL West-leading Houston. They trail the Yankees by 1½ games for home-field advantage should they meet in a wild-card matchup.Robinson Cano and Dee Gordon homered for the Mariners.The Athletics will be making their fourth playoff appearance in the last seven seasons, all under manager Bob Melvin, and their 27th overall. The A's lost at Kansas City 9-8 in 12 innings in the 2014 wild-card... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — The Oakland Athletics clinched their first playoff berth since 2014, then beat the Seattle Mariners 7-3 Monday night behind Khris Davis' major league-leading 46th home run.Jonathan Lucroy, Jed Lowrie and Matt Chapman also homered for the A's, assured no worse than a wild-card berth.Oakland was one out into the game when Tampa Bay was eliminated with a 4-1 loss to the New York Yankees. The A's went on to win after Chapman broke a 3-3 tie with a two-run drive in the seventh off Shawn Armstrong (0-1).Coming off three straight last-place finishes in the AL West, the A's (95-62) are 4½ games behind AL West-leading Houston. They trail the Yankees by 1½ games for home-field advantage should they meet in a wild-card matchup.Robinson Cano and Dee Gordon homered for the Mariners.The Athletics will be making their fourth playoff appearance in the last seven seasons, all under manager Bob Melvin, and their 27th overall. The A's lost at Kansas City 9-8 in 12 innings in the 2014 wild-card... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — The Braves capped a most surprising season by clinching their first NL East crown since 2013, with Mike Foltynewicz taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning Saturday in a 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.A year after going 70-92, manager Brian Snitker and his Baby Braves surged back into the playoffs.Atlanta makes its first postseason appearance since 2013 on Oct. 4 in the NL Division Series. The Braves won their 18th division title, tying the New York Yankees for the most in the majors since division play began in 1969.Philadelphia, which led the division in early August, is 6-14 this month.Foltynewicz (12-10) tipped his cap to a standing ovation as he left with runners on first and second in the eighth with a 4-0 lead.Arodys Vizcaino, in his first save situation since June 17, closed out the ninth for his 16th save.Jake Arrieta (10-10) allowed four runs, four hits and three walks in two innings, the shortest outing of his nine-year career.YANKEES 3, ORIOLES 2NEW... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — The Braves capped a most surprising season by clinching their first NL East crown since 2013, with Mike Foltynewicz taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning Saturday in a 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.A year after going 70-92, manager Brian Snitker and his Baby Braves surged back into the playoffs.Atlanta makes its first postseason appearance since 2013 on Oct. 4 in the NL Division Series. The Braves won their 18th division title, tying the New York Yankees for the most in the majors since division play began in 1969.Philadelphia, which led the division in early August, is 6-14 this month.Foltynewicz (12-10) tipped his cap to a standing ovation as he left with runners on first and second in the eighth with a 4-0 lead.Arodys Vizcaino, in his first save situation since June 17, closed out the ninth for his 16th save.Jake Arrieta (10-10) allowed four runs, four hits and three walks in two innings, the shortest outing of his nine-year career.YANKEES 3, ORIOLES 2NEW... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge returned to the Yankees for the first time since his right wrist was broken seven weeks ago, taking over in right field for the final two innings of New York's 11-0 romp over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night.Judge had not played since July 26, when he was hit by a pitch from Kansas City's Jakob Junis. The Yankees say for now Judge will be limited to defense and pinch running, but they hope he will become a regular at some point in the regular season's final two weeks.Masahiro Tanaka (12-5), bidding to start a likely wild-card game against Oakland on Oct. 3, extended his scoreless streak to 20 innings and won his third straight start. Dominating with a sharp splitter, Tanaka struck out eight in six innings and allowed four hits. Luis Cessa got his second save in New York's largest shutout win margin since a 15-0 victory over the Mets on June 14, 2009.New York improved to 13-4 against Toronto this season. Starting their final homestand, the Yankees remained... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today:LET'S BE FRIENDSStill in contention for a postseason spot, the Seattle Mariners seem to have some internal issues that need sorting out. A brawl broke out in the team's clubhouse Tuesday several hours before a game against Baltimore at Safeco Field. Mariners shortstop Jean Segura and teammate Dee Gordon apparently tangled, while catcher Mike Zunino and other players tried to break up the skirmish. Moments after Gordon politely asked reporters to leave the locker room, the double doors burst open with players shoving and shouting. Segura was on the ground in the fracas. "Our guys are working through it and talking through it," manager Scott Servais said. "It happens a lot more than you know. Almost every year you see it. Sometimes it brings teams together. ... Things reach a boiling point and you have to get it off your chest."FOOT BALLFirst baseman Anthony Rizzo said he plans to play as the Cubs try to avoid a three-game sweep in Milwaukee.... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — A brawl broke out in the Seattle Mariners' clubhouse Tuesday several hours before a game at Safeco Field.Shortstop Jean Segura and teammate Dee Gordon apparently tangled, while catcher Mike Zunino and other players tried to break up the skirmish.Moments after Gordon politely asked reporters to leave the locker room, the double doors burst open with players shoving and shouting. Segura was on the ground in the fracas."Whatever happens in here stays in here," Mariners star Robinson Cano said after a 5-3 loss to Baltimore. "It didn't affect anyone in here. We let it go. We're good. Everyone is good. We left that behind."The Mariners have gone through a rough few months.Seattle was 46-25 on June 16 and 11 1/2 games ahead of Oakland in the wild-card standings. The Mariners are 77-62 and 5 ½ games behind the A's in the chase for the second AL wild-card spot."Things happen in a clubhouse," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "Our guys are working through it and talking through... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Steve Pearce had three hits and three RBIs, Rick Porcello allowed two hits in five innings and the Boston Red Sox beat the Atlanta Braves 5-1 on Tuesday night for their second straight win in a matchup of division leaders.Porcello (16-7) gave up one run and struck out five, improving to 10-3 on the road this year. He had been 0-2 in his previous three starts overall since an Aug. 14 win at Philadelphia.Atlanta pitchers walked nine, including five by starter Sean Newcomb (11-8), who matched his season high. He allowed three runs and four hits in 4 1/3 innings.The Braves' lead over second-place Philadelphia in the NL East was cut to three games.Kurt Suzuki homered for the Braves.BREWERS 11, CUBS 1MILWAUKEE (AP) — Lorenzo Cain reached base five times, Wade Miley pitched six stingy innings and Milwaukee romped past Chicago to climb within three games of the NL Central leaders.Miley (3-2) allowed one run and three hits, struck out five and walked none as Milwaukee won for the... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — A brawl broke out in the Seattle Mariners' clubhouse Tuesday several hours before a game at Safeco Field.Shortstop Jean Segura and teammate Dee Gordon tangled, while catcher Mike Zunino and other players tried to break up the skirmish.Moments after Gordon politely asked reporters to leave the locker room, the double doors burst open with players shoving and shouting."Things happen in a clubhouse," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "Our guys are working through it and talking through it. It's unfortunate, but it happens."Servais, who normally meets media members in his office before each game, spoke in the dugout before a 5-3 loss to Baltimore."It happens a lot more than you know. Almost every year you see it. Sometimes it brings teams together," he said. "Things reach a boiling point and you have to get it off your chest.""With how our season has gone, the frustration mounts. Along the way, there are bumps in the road," he said.The Mariners have gone through a rough few months.Seattle was 46-25 on June 16 and 11 1/2 games ahead of Oakland in the wild-card standings. The Mariners are 77-62 and 5 ½ games behind the A's in the chase for the second AL wild-card spot.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at what's happening around the majors today:LET'S BE FRIENDSStill in contention for a postseason spot, the Seattle Mariners apparently have some internal issues that need sorting out. A brawl involving several Mariners players broke out in their clubhouse Tuesday several hours before a game against Baltimore at Safeco Field. Moments after center fielder Dee Gordon politely asked reporters to leave the locker room, the double doors burst open with players shoving and shouting. "Our guys are working through it and talking through it," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "It happens a lot more than you know. Almost every year you see it. Sometimes it brings teams together. ... Things reach a boiling point and you have to get it off your chest."FOOT BALLFirst baseman Anthony Rizzo said he plans to play as the Cubs try to avoid a three-game sweep in Milwaukee. Rizzo left Tuesday night's 11-1 loss with a bruised right foot but said he was OK. The injury occurred when Rizzo fouled a ball... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors Wednesday:LET'S BE FRIENDSStill in contention for a postseason spot, the Seattle Mariners apparently have some internal issues that need sorting out. A brawl involving several Mariners players broke out in their clubhouse Tuesday several hours before a game against Baltimore at Safeco Field. Shortstop Jean Segura, catcher Mike Zunino and other players were involved in the skirmish. Moments after center fielder Dee Gordon politely asked reporters to leave the locker room, the double doors burst open with players shoving and shouting. "Our guys are working through it and talking through it," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "It happens a lot more than you know. Almost every year you see it. Sometimes it brings teams together. ... Things reach a boiling point and you have to get it off your chest."FOOT BALLThe Cubs hope for good news on first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who left Tuesday night's game against Milwaukee with a bruised right foot.The... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — A brawl involving several players broke out in the Seattle Mariners' clubhouse Tuesday night several hours before a game at Safeco Field.Shortstop Jean Segura, catcher Mike Zunino and other players were involved in the skirmish.Moments after center fielder Dee Gordon politely asked reporters to leave the locker room, the double doors burst open with players shoving and shouting."Things happen in a clubhouse," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "Our guys are working through it and talking through it. It's unfortunate, but it happens."Servais, who normally meets media members in his office before each game, spoke in the dugout before the game against Baltimore."It happens a lot more than you know. Almost every year you see it. Sometimes it brings teams together," he said. "Things reach a boiling point and you have to get it off your chest.""With how our season has gone, the frustration mounts. Along the way, there are bumps in the road," he said.The Mariners have gone through a rough few months.Seattle was 46-25 on June 16 and 11 1/2 games ahead of Oakland in the wild-card standings. The Mariners went into the day 77-61 and 5 ½ games behind the A's in the chase for the second AL wild-card spot.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports